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verb B1 Intermediate

doze

dohz

Doze (verb) means to sleep lightly for a short time; to nap. Example: “He dozed off in front of the TV.”

verb
1
To sleep lightly for a short time; to nap.
"He dozed off in front of the TV."
"She dozed for twenty minutes on the train."
noun
1
A short, light sleep.
"I had a little doze after lunch."

How to use doze

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo fall into a light, brief sleep, often without meaning to.

Common pairings
doze off have a doze

Word forms

dozed past tense, dozed past tense, dozes plural, dozes singular, dozes singular

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Test yourself on “doze” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He _____ off in front of the TV.

Etymology

From Old Norse dúsa, "to doze, rest" — related to the word "dizzy."

Origin: Old Norse

Related words

Rhymes for doze

See all rhymes for doze →

Frequently asked questions

What does “doze” mean?

The word “doze” means to sleep lightly for a short time; to nap. In plain terms, to fall into a light, brief sleep, often without meaning to.

How do you pronounce “doze”?

“Doze” is pronounced dohz (/doʊz/ in IPA).

How do you use “doze” in a sentence?

Here is “doze” used in a sentence: “He dozed off in front of the TV.”

What part of speech is “doze”?

Depending on how it is used, “doze” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “doze” come from?

The word “doze” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse dúsa, "to doze, rest" — related to the word "dizzy.".

How many meanings does “doze” have?

“Doze” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to sleep lightly for a short time; to nap.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial